Foreign Minister reiterates Sri Lanka’s commitment for a comprehensive regional approach to combating people smuggling

August 9, 2018

 Speaking at the 7^th Bali Process Ministerial Conference on people smuggling, human trafficking, and other international crimes on Tuesday 7 August in Bali, Indonesia, Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment for a comprehensive regional approach to combat people smuggling, and to work in partnership with governments, international organizations and civil society to prevent human smuggling, protect and support victims, and bring perpetrators to justice. Read More »

Tourism Promotional Talk Focussing on Sustainable Tourism and Sri Lankan Elephants

July 13, 2018

Environmentalist, wildlife enthusiast and expert on Sri Lankan elephants, Srilal MIththapala gave a talk on ‘Sri Lanka Wildlife and Sustainable Tourism with a special focus on elephants’ at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra on 10 July.

The audience consisting travel writers, tourism industry representatives, wildlife and elephant enthusiasts enjoyed the informative and insightful presentation with video clips of elephants in Sri Lanka.

This is the second talk given by Srilal MIththapala at the High Commission and the third in the series of tourism promotional events hosted by the Read More »

Ifthar celebrated at Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra

June 4, 2018

The Sri Lankan community in Canberra led by the Canberra Sri Lanka Muslim Association joined the High Commission staff in partaking of Ifthar on 2^nd June.

Breaking of fast in the traditional manner was followed by a call to prayers which was then observed by all members of the Muslim community who were present.  The High Commissioner in his welcome address thereafter said that   the Holy Prophet Mohamed stressed the value of humility because  it was only when one was humble could one be sensitive to the needs of others. Read More »

Proceeds from Sri Lanka Festival 2017 in Canberra handed over to the “Little Hearts” Project

May 25, 2018

Proceeds from the Sri Lanka Festival 2017 held in Canberra on 25 November 2017 amounting to A$ 5000.00 (SLRs 611,632.70) was recently handed over to the ‘Little Hearts’ Project of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Sri Lanka .

The Festival was organised by the High Commission at its premises with the assistance of the Sri Lankan community. Read More »

High Commissioner Skandakumar Presents Credentials in Papua New Guinea

May 14, 2018

High Commissioner Somasundaram Skandakumar presented credentials as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Governor General H.E. Robert Dadae of Papua New Guinea on 8 May 2018.

Following the ceremony at  Government House, the Governor General held a one to one discussion with the High Commissioner and expressed the hope that the two countries could build on the cordial relations. The Governor General noted that Sri Lanka was rich in the education sector and PNG has received a large number of Sri Lankan academics as well as teachers in the past. The Governor General also highlighted the need to build on economic relations. Read More »

Vesak celebrations in Canberra

May 1, 2018

Vesak was celebrated at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra on Sunday 29^th April with the participation of Sri Lankan community and Australian officials. The celebrations commenced with the invoking of blessings and chanting of pirith by the resident Venerable Theros of the Sri Lanka Buddhist VIhara in Canberra, followed by a short Anusasana and Buddha Pooja.

The High Commission staff presented Bhakthi Gee while High Commissioner S. Skandakumar joined in to sing the final song “Pōya Sandē Sanda Kiranin” whose theme was for a world that exists in righteousness and peace. Live music was provided by the Canberra based ‘Nada Roo’ Music Group. Read More »

Inaugural Talks under Sri Lanka and Australia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement

April 26, 2018

Inaugural talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between Sri Lanka and Australia were held on 19^th April in Canberra at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This was the first bilateral discussion taking place after the TIFA was signed in Colombo on 2 November 2017, during the visit of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The agenda encompassed discussions on economic reform and cooperation, free trade and regional trade agreement agendas, market access and investment facilitation and sector specific opportunities for investment in both countries.

Read More »

Launch of new interface of Foreign Ministry website

April 24, 2018

A new interface of the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been launched. The URL for the website remains the same, at:- http://www.mfa.gov.lk

The new interface has been designed to be mobile responsive and accessible across different devices, platforms and browsers; to provide a more user-friendly interface for the web-user and public.

Comprehensive updated information in important sections such as key profiles, contact details of ministry officials and divisions; contact details of Sri Lanka Missions abroad and Foreign Missions / Organizations in Sri Lanka; and detailed information on the range of consular services available to the public, are presently online. These sections will also be made available in Sinhala and Tamil, shortly.

Contact details of Sri Lanka Missions abroad are listed and categorized for quick access, and can be searched on a map indicating regions of the world. With a view to providing better information to the public, the Mission entry also indicates the current time of the country where the Mission is located, and the time difference from where the user has logged into the site.

The new interface is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to improve service delivery and to provide information to the general public.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

20 April 2018

Visit of Hon Vasantha Senanayake, State Minister of Foreign Affairs to Australia on the invitation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

March 30, 2018

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake met Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on 26^th March during a visit to Australia on the invitation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The two Ministers discussed bilateral issues ranging from the strong people to people links and growing economic relations, to cooperation in countering transnational crimes. Read More »

Statement by Hon. Tilak Marapana Minister of Foreign Affairs In 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

March 23, 2018

Statement by

Hon. Tilak Marapana, PC., MP

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka

  Read More »